GF Strategic Bond Fund

Single Price$12.531as of 31/07/2025
Fund launch date
Fund size$2,590,330.75
Number of holdings22

The Fund

The Ireland-domiciled and Article 8 Fund has been managed since launch in April 2018 by Phil Milburn and Donald Phillips. The Fund aims to maximise its total return over the long term (5 years or more) through a combination of income and capital growth by investing in bonds issued by corporates and governments on a global basis, including in emerging markets. The fund managers seek to take advantage of market inefficiencies. 

SFDR Article 8

You are able to redeem your investment from the Fund at any time and there is no exit fee for doing so.

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Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested. Reference to specific securities is not intended as a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment. 
Key Information
Manager Inception Date of Fund
-
Managed by Current Team for
-
Class Launch Date
-
ISIN code
IE00BYWRQR50
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Additional Information
Minimum initial investment
-
Minimum additional investment
-
Ex-dividend date
-
Distribution date
-
Sedol code
BYWRQR5
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Charges
Initial charge
-
Charges
0.62%
Included within the OCF is the Annual Management Charge
0.55%
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Awards and Ratings

Citywire fund manager rating

Citywire Manager Rating: +

Meet the team

Before joining Liontrust in early 2018, Phil Milburn worked at Kames Capital for 14 years, where he was Head of Investment Strategy. Donald Phillips also joined Liontrust in 2018 and was previously an investment manager in the Credit team at Baillie Gifford and worked with Phil at Kames Capital for three years.
Global Fixed Income team

Our Investment Process

The process is designed to take advantage of inefficiencies in fixed income markets through a thorough understanding of the economic environment and detailed bottom up stock analysis.
The process uses the same framework to garner a thorough understanding of the economic environment and for bottom up stock analysis: fundamentals, valuations and technicals (FVT). 
These three factors are examined regardless of whether the managers are considering a duration position or an investment in a speculative grade rated company. In judging whether a company is attractive long-term investment, the managers analyse the following factors, which they call PRISM.
  • Protections: operational and contractual, such as structure and covenants
  • Risks: credit, business and market
  • Interest cover: leverage and other key ratios
  • Sustainability: of cash flows and environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors
  • Motivations: of management and shareholders
While the Fund has neutral target levels of duration risk and asset allocation, the investment team takes a high conviction approach which can lead positioning to diverge significantly from neutral levels and benchmark profiles. This results in periods when investment performance diverges from benchmark indices.
Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested. Reference to specific securities is not intended as a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment. 

Performance

As the share class has been in existence for less than one discrete year as at the previous quarter end, there is insufficient data to provide an indication of past performance.

Discrete performance (%)

As at previous quarter 12 months ending:Jun 2025Jun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021
Liontrust GF Strategic Bond7.110.13.4-13.35.4
Off Mt Fixed Int - USD5.44.41.1-10.34.0

Source: FE fundinfo as at 31/07/2025. Performance figures are shown in USD. Total return performance figures are calculated net of costs and charges, on a bid price to bid price basis (mid to mid for OEICs) with net income (dividends) reinvested. Where applicable the quartile rank is for the primary share class within the sector. If your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

Cumulative performance (%)

As at previous day end1 month3 months6 monthsYTD1 year3 years5 years10 yearsSince Inception
Liontrust GF Strategic Bond-0.11.53.03.54.315.68.8-25.1
Off Mt Fixed Int - USD0.21.72.53.04.49.72.6-12.5

Source: FE fundinfo as at 31/07/2025. Performance figures are shown in USD. Total return performance figures are calculated net of costs and charges, on a bid price to bid price basis (mid to mid for OEICs) with net income (dividends) reinvested. Where applicable the quartile rank is for the primary share class within the sector. If your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation the return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

Current positioning

Top 10 Holdings (%)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 0% UNDATED NTS USD100
7.98
US TREASURY N/B
7.60
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 4.25% TNT 17/10/25 USD100 AT-2025 (WI)
7.58
Liontrust GF High Yield Bond B5 Acc
6.56
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG & CO.KGAA 2.375% BDS 16/02/31 USD1000144A
4.92
3I GROUP 4.875% Jun29
4.68
BARCLAYS PLC VAR May36 EMTN
4.62
HEIMS BOSTAD 291105
4.54
LKQ DUTCH BD. 4.125% 13/3/2031
4.53
SIG COMBIBLOC 3.75% Mar30
4.53

Sector Breakdown (%)

Government Bonds
32.26
Banks
15.08
Financial Services
10.28
Insurance
7.81
Mutual Funds
6.56
Cash Derivatives
5.32
Health Care
4.92
Real Estate
4.54
Automotive
4.53
Capital Goods
4.53

Geographic Breakdown (%)

USA
41.53
UK
16.98
Netherlands
12.31
France
8.23
Ireland
6.56
Cash & Cash Equivalents
5.32
Sweden
4.54
Luxembourg
4.53

Credit Rating *

Key features of the Fund

The investment objective of the Fund is to maximise total returns over the long term through a combination of income and capital. The Fund will seek to achieve its objective by investing in bond and credit markets worldwide. The Fund invests in a wide range of bonds issued by corporates and governments, from investment grade through to high yield. The Fund invests in developed and emerging markets, with a maximum of 40% of its net assets invested in emerging markets. Investments may be made in "hard" currencies, such as US Dollar, Euro and Sterling, and up to 25% of the net assets of the Fund may be invested in soft currencies, such as those of emerging markets. Where the Fund invests in non-US Dollar assets, the currency exposure of these investments will generally be hedged back to US Dollar. Up to 10% of the Fund's currency exposure may not be hedged, i.e. the Fund may be exposed to the risks of investing in another currency for up to 10% of its assets. The Fund may invest both directly, and through the use of derivatives. The use of derivatives may generate market leverage (i.e. where the Fund takes market exposure in excess of the value of its assets). In addition, the Fund may invest in cash or cash equivalents, such as deposits and Money Market Instruments, for cash management purposes. Within the limits stated above, there are no geographical or economic sector restrictions on the Fund's investments. The Fund has both Hedged and Unhedged share classes available. The Hedged share classes use forward foreign exchange contracts to protect returns in the base currency of the Fund. The fund manager considers environmental, social and governance ("ESG") characteristics of issuers when selecting investments for the Fund.

5 years or more.

3 (Please refer to the Fund PRIIP KID for further detail on how this is calculated)

Active

The Fund is actively managed without reference to any benchmark meaning that the Investment Adviser has full discretion over the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, subject to the stated investment objectives and policies.

The Fund is a financial product subject to Article 8 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). You can learn more about our implementation of the SFDR here.

Fund Manager Insights

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KEY RISKS

Past performance does not predict future returns. You may get back less than you originally invested.

We recommend this fund is held long term (minimum period of 5 years). We recommend that you hold this fund as part of a diversified portfolio of investments.

  • The Fund considers environmental, social and governance (""ESG"") characteristics of issuers.
  • Overseas investments may carry a higher currency risk. They are valued by reference to their local currency which may move up or down when compared to the currency of the Fund.
  • Bonds are affected by changes in interest rates and their value and the income they generate can rise or fall as a result;
  • The creditworthiness of a bond issuer may also affect that bond's value. Bonds that produce a higher level of income usually also carry greater risk as such bond issuers (high yield) may have difficulty in paying their debts. The value of a bond would be significantly affected if the issuer either refused to pay or was unable to pay.
  • The Fund will invest in derivatives but it is not intended that their use will materially affect volatility. Derivatives are used to protect against currencies, credit and interest rate moves or for investment purposes. The use of derivatives may create leverage or gearing resulting in potentially greater volatility or fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund. A relatively small movement in the value of a derivative's underlying investment may have a larger impact, positive or negative, on the value of a fund than if the underlying investment was held instead.
  • The Fund’s volatility limits are calculated using the Value at Risk (VaR) methodology.  In high interest rate environments the Fund’s implied volatility limits may rise resulting in a higher risk indicator score.  The higher score does not necessarily mean the Fund is more risky and is potentially a result of overall market conditions.
  • Credit Counterparty Risk: the Fund uses derivative instruments that may result in higher cash levels. Outside of normal conditions, the Fund may choose to hold higher levels of cash. Cash may be deposited with several credit counterparties (e.g. international banks) or in shortdated bonds. A credit risk arises should one or more of these counterparties be unable to return the deposited cash.
  • Emerging Markets Risk: the Fund may invest in emerging markets which carries a higher risk than investment in more developed countries. This may result in higher volatility and larger drops in the value of the fund over the short term.
  • Liquidity Risk: the Fund may encounter liquidity constraints from time to time. Participation rates on advertised volumes could fall reflecting the less liquid nature of the current market conditions.
  • ESG Risk: there may be limitations to the availability, completeness or accuracy of ESG information from third-party providers, or inconsistencies in the consideration of ESG factors across different third party data providers, given the evolving nature of ESG.

The issue of units/shares in Liontrust Funds may be subject to an initial charge, which will have an impact on the realisable value of the investment, particularly in the short term. Investments should always be considered as long term.

DISCLAIMER

This material is issued by Liontrust Investment Partners LLP (2 Savoy Court, London WC2R 0EZ), authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 518552) to undertake regulated investment business.

It should not be construed as advice for investment in any product or security mentioned, an offer to buy or sell units/shares of Funds mentioned, or a solicitation to purchase securities in any company or investment product. Examples of stocks are provided for general information only to demonstrate our investment philosophy. The investment being promoted is for units in a fund, not directly in the underlying assets.

This information and analysis is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change without notice. Whilst care has been taken in compiling the content, no representation or warranty is given, whether express or implied, by Liontrust as to its accuracy or completeness, including for external sources (which may have been used) which have not been verified.

This is a marketing communication. Before making an investment, you should read the relevant Prospectus and the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) and/or PRIIP/KID, which provide full product details including investment charges and risks. These documents can be obtained, free of charge, from www.liontrust.com or direct from Liontrust. If you are not a professional investor please consult a regulated financial adviser regarding the suitability of such an investment for you and your personal circumstances.